Stone accused 'going on a day out'

One of the two men accused of plotting to kill singer Joss Stone said he hadn't heard of her before and thought he was "just going on a day out" on the morning the pair were arrested, a few miles from her home.

Junior Bradshaw, 32, and co-accused Kevin Liverpool, 35, were stopped at around 9am on June 13 near Cullompton in Devon, having driven from Manchester. Exeter Crown Court heard last week that a stash of weapons - including a samurai sword - was found in the car, along with maps relating to the area.

The two men, both of St Stephen's Close, Manchester, deny charges of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to rob.

Giving evidence today, Bradshaw told his defence counsel, Martin Meeke QC, he didn't know where he was going when the pair set off, seven hours before their arrest in Devon. He also said he had never heard of the 25-year-old.

Mr Meeke asked Bradshaw where the pair were going, and he replied: "We were just going on a day out."

Mr Meeke also asked: "Do you remember what you were going to do when you arrived where you were going?" Bradshaw said: "No."

Asked if he had ever heard Liverpool mention the name "Joss Stone", Bradshaw said: "No." He denied having heard of Joss before the case against him started.

Bradshaw was asked several questions about the events leading up to his arrest, but said he could not remember or did not know the answers to them. He also told the court he could not remember details about his previous time in prison, including for exposure, but said he had been treated in hospital in Manchester for schizophrenia.

He denied asking a postman in Devon where Joss lived - contradicting evidence from local postman Alex Greening, who last week told the court he was on his rounds on the morning of June 13 2011 when he was approached by two men in a car inquiring about the star. Asked by Mr Meeke if the pair had driven to Devon to kill the singer, to do her serious harm or to rob her, Bradshaw replied: "No."

Under cross-examination Simon Morgan QC, prosecuting, asked Bradshaw again what he thought he and Liverpool were doing when they left Manchester in the early hours. Bradshaw replied again: "Just going on a day out." Mr Morgan replied: "You left at 2am. You know the difference between night and day. So where could you be going at 2am?" Bradshaw replied: "I don't know."